No 20
I Edward Thoroton Gould of his Majesty’s own Regiment of Foot being of lawful age, do testify and declare that on the evening of the 10th Instant under the orders of Genl Gage I embarked with the LIght Infantry & Grenadiers of the Line commanded by Col Smith & landed on the Marshes of Cambridge from whence we proceeded to Lexington; on our arrival at that place we saw a body of provincial troops armed to the number of about sixty or seventy men, on our approach they dispersed and soon after firing began, but which party fired first I cannot exactly say, as our Troops rush’d on shouting, huzzaing previous to the firing, which was continued by our Troops so long as any of the provincials were to be seen. From thence we marched to Concord on a Hill near the Entrance of the Town. We saw another Body of provincials assembled, the light Infantry Companies were ordered up the Hill, to disperse them on our approach they retreated towards Concord. The Grenadiers continued the road under the Hill toward the Town. Six Companies of light Infantry were ordered down to take possession of the Bridge, which the provincials retreated over; the company I commanded was one, three companies of the above detachment were forward about two miles, in the mean time the provincial Troops returned to the number of about three or four hundred. We drew up on the Concord side of the Bridge, the provincials came down upon us, upon which we engaged and gave them first fire: This was the first Engagement after the one at Lexington; a continued firing from both parties lasted thro’ the whole day; I myself was wounded at the attached of the bridge, I am now treated with the greatest humanity and taken all possible care of by the provincials at Medford.
Medford, April 25th 1775.
Edwd Thoroton Gould
Lieut Kings own Regt
52
Province of Massachusetts Bay Charlestown F
I Nathaniel Gorham Notary & Tabellion Publick by lawful authority duly admitted & sworn hereby certify to all whom it doth or may concern that Thadeus Mason, Josiah Johnson & SImon Tufts Esqr are three of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace (quorum unus) for the County of Middlesex & that full faith & credit is & ought to be given to their transactions as such both in Court & out in witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my name and seal this twenty sixth day of April Anno Domino one thousand seven hundred & seventy five.
Nathaniel Gorham Notary Publ Seal
the foregoing instruments are true copies in witness whereof I have hereunto set my name & seal
Nathaniel Gorham Noty Publ
No 20
an account of the commencement of the late hostilities in the province of the Massachusetts Bay taken from affidavits transmitted to the congress now sitting in this city also an address from the Congress of Massachusetts Bay to the Inhabitants of Great Britain
In Congress May 11, 1775.
Extracts – then follow the affidavits in order so follow the affidavits or testimonies
” all the above are sworn to before Justices of the peace & duly attested
“by notaries public”
Then the address after the address insert A true copy from the minutes
Char Thomson Jus.
